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Dec. 18 1923.

R. K. CHRISMAN ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed May 18,, 1921 INVENTOR W6, QM

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

UNITED STATES RUSSELL K. CHRISMAN, OF SYRACUSE, IL

V7 YORK, ASSIG-JOR TO SEME'IJ- OIJVAY COMBANY, OF SGLVAY, NE)? A CORPORATION OF ELEQTEGLYTZU APIPARATUS.

Application filed 18, 1821. Serial No. 430,797.

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that l. linsssnL K. Crims- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of ()nondag'a and State of New .ii'ork, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Electrolytic Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

ldy invention relates enerally to the oxidation or reduction in an electrolytic cell of organic or inorganic solution or solids and more particularly to such cells as employed in the oxidation of organic oils or solids that are immiscible with the electrolyte and oxidizing material.

In effecting the oxidation of an organic oil, such as toluol, by electrolytic action, when an oxygen carrier such as a salt manganese is mixed with the electrolyte of the electrolytic cell, the carrier becomes highly charged with oxygen which is set free by the passage of current through the cell from anode to cathode. In order that the oxygen may be transferred from the oxygen carrier to the oil so as to effect the oxidation of the latter it is necessary that the oil shall be completely emulsified with the solution.

It has heretofore been the practice to effect the oxidation of the oxygen carrier in the cell and then to remove the solution therefrom and effect the emulsification of the oil with the solution in a separate vessel.

The object of my improvements is to avoid the delay and expense incident to this ope ation and to cilect the simultaneous oxi dation of the oxygen carr'er and transfer of the oxygen to the oil to effect the oxidation of the latter, by causing an etlicient emitdsification of the oil with the solution in the electrolytic cell. itself.

To this end i employ the peculiar cell construction hereinafter descriaed and illustratcd in the accompanyin drawings, to which reference will be in de, Fig. of which shows a vertical sect on of an electrolytic cell embodying the structural features of my invention. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the same on the line Fin. 1. and Fig. 3 shows in detail a vertical section of one of the perforated anodes with the cathode removed therefrom.

Referring to the drawings. A, imlicates a cylindrical tub, or vessel, provided with alead lining, B.

Within the vessel, A, is series of cylindrical lead anodes, C, C, arranged in a circle around the inner periphery of the vessel, which are open at each end and are pro vided with perforations, c, 0. The anodes, C, are secured to a lead ring, D, to which are connected straps, F, by which the anodes are supported upon the edge of the vessel, A, and which provide a current connection to the anodes. The anodes, C, are also secured to an inner lead ring, E, by which they are further electrically connected and which also serves to give rigidity to the group of anodes, C, (l. Thus the group of anodes C, C, are opcratively a single anode.

ll'ithin each of the perforated, cylindrical anodes, (I, C, a porous cup diaphragm, which is set permanently in the removable cover, I. as by leans of molten sulphur and lead as indicated at H. lVit-hin each of the cylindrical diaphragms, G, is a cylindrical load cathode, ll, rovided at its top with a lead connection, K, which in turn is connected to a terminal, L, to take the current away from the cell.

The distances between the anode and the porous diaphragm and between the diaphrap'n'i and the cathode are made as small as may be so as to permit of operation with low voltage and yet leave some space for the sullicient circulation of the solution around the anodes.

Centrally located within the vessel, A, in

the open space between the anodes, is a lead covered agitator, M, of: the propeller typo, inounted upon a shaft, N, which is lead covered where it is immersed in the solution of the cell. The lower end of the shaft ll, rests in a socket in plate, 0, which is secured to the bottom of the cell, and has bearings, P, Q, in the cell cover, I, and in a horse, I, located above the cover. The agitator M, is rotated by means of a pulley, S. upon the shaft, N. Upon the shaft, N, above and below the agitator, M, are located deflector plates. T, T, whereby currents set up in the solution by the movement of the agitator. M, are directed away from the center and toward the outer walls of the cell. The sell cover, I. is provided with. a vent, l to permit the escape of excess oxy gen and give access to the cell for the puri308) of making tests and the cathode chainhere are also provided with vents, V, to permitthe escape of hydrogen.

ill)

In carrying the operation into eliect the vessel, A, is filled with asuitable electrolyte, as dilute sulphuric acid, containing an oxygen carrier, such as salt or salts of manganese, to which is added the oil, such as t oluol; to he treated. Current is passed through the cell which, in case oxidation'is to be effected, passes rrom the anode to the cathode and the agitator, M, is rapidly re- '\*olved. By this the oil is thoroughly mixed and emulsified with the solution and the transfer of oxygen from the oxygen carrier to the oil and consequent oxidation of the latter is effected in situ so that the necessity of removing the solution from the cell in order to eilect the oxidation of the oil is avoided, with consequent convenience and economy 01'? operation.

In case reduction instead of oxidation is to be effected this is accomplished in the same manner, the current, however, being passed through the cell in the opposite direction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An electrolytic cell comprising a containing vessel and a plurality of cylindrical anode elements arranged around and tan gent to a central open space within said VQSSGl and having a common electrical connection.

2. An electrolytic cell comprising a containing vessel, a plurality of pairs of anode nection, a cylindrical cathode element located within each of said anode elements and a porous diaphragm. interposed between said anode and cathode elements.

4. An electrolytic cell comprising a corn taining vessel, a plurality of pairs of anode and cathode elements, the elements of each pair being arranged concentrically to one another and the several pairs being arranged around a central open space. within said vessel and equidistant from the center ther of, and means located in said open space for effecting circulation of an electrolyte within the vessel.

5. An electrolytic cell comprising a containing vessel and a plurality of pairs of cylindrical anode and cathode elements arranged around central open space within said vessel and having their centers outside of said open space. V

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature, this lath day of April, 1921.

RUSSELL K. CI-IRISMAN. 

